Treatment element for a vehicle wash media element

ABSTRACT

A treatment element for attachment to a wash media element includes a tab portion for engaging and effecting attachment to the wash media element. A treatment head is connected to the tab portion and is configured to engage a vehicle exterior. The treatment head including a plurality of individual finger portions that are moveable with respect to one another.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/680,773, entitled “A Hub For a Vehicle WashComponent Having an Arcuate Pattern of Media Elements”, which was filedon Apr. 7, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,368,973, which is a continuationof U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/668,121, entitled “A Hub For aVehicle Wash Component Having an Arcuate Pattern of Media Elements”,which was filed on Nov. 2, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,248,809, whichclaims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.61/554,559, entitled “Car Wash Implement and Splayable Foam PlasticElement for Use in Constructing Same”, which was filed on Nov. 2, 2011;U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/556,893, entitled“Injection Molded Foamed Polymeric Car Wash Media”, which was filed onNov. 8, 2011; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.61/642,831, entitled “Top Brush”, which was filed on May 4, 2012, thedisclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference as though setforth fully herein.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to a wash media element for avehicle wash component that can be used to treat a vehicle exterior in avehicle wash facility. More specifically, the present disclosure relatesto a treatment element of a wash media element.

BACKGROUND

Vehicle wash implements, such as rotary brushes, are typicallyconstructed with various types of flexible washing elements. Typicalvehicle wash elements are limp in the non-rotating state, and “extend”or “blossom” to their working length only when the brush is rotated dueto centrifugal force. To increase the tension in the washing elementsand therefore their effective rigidity, it is necessary to rotate thebrush faster. Even then and even at high rotational speeds, the washingelements can bend and deflect in unpredictable ways, making more or lessrandom patterns of contact with the vehicle surface, and exertinginconsistent working pressures on the vehicle surface as they makecontact. The result is that high rotational speeds and redundant pointsof contact are necessary to get an acceptable cleaning result.

Most of these known vehicle wash elements are made of a pliable materialwhich results in the individual elements hanging downwardly under theforce of gravity when the brush is motionless. (A typical brush utilizedin existing vehicle wash facilities is exemplarily illustrated in FIGS.1a and 1b .) As shown, when these rotary brushes are at rest, theattached media elements hang downwardly such that their outer ends aregenerally disposed adjacent a lower end of the rotary brush. At rest,the component has a small effective contact area or working diameter, asdefined by the outermost boundary or footprint of the elements. Thisfootprint is generally designated as F₁ in FIGS. 1a and 1 b.

The useful working diameter of these rotary brushes is only increased toa sufficient size where the media elements extend generally outwardly ina perpendicular fashion from the hub and into contact with a vehicle,when the brush is rotated at high speeds. At high rotational speeds, themedia elements extend outwardly due to centrifugal force to a usefulworking diameter or footprint, as generally designated as F₂ in FIGS. 2aand 2b . When the brush stops rotating or the speed of rotation isreduced considerably, the centrifugal force is insufficient to supportthe media elements and they will hang or droop, as shown in FIGS. 1a and1 b.

It is thus common practice to rotate vehicle wash brushes at higherspeeds when washing a vehicle. These speeds are typically in the rangeof 60 RPM to 110 RPM and higher with much of this rotational speed beingneeded to extend the flexible washing elements to their working lengthas shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b . At these high rotational speeds, theotherwise limp washing elements can reach the surface of a vehicle to bewashed. These high rotational speeds also help maintain a safe workingdistance between the vehicle surface and the rigid central hub of therotary car wash brush. Unfortunately, as the rotational speeds of thesevehicle wash brushes are increased to provide a necessary workingdiameter, other problems are created.

One known problem with conventional brushes that rotate at high speedsis that the higher the speed at which the prior media elements contactthe vehicle surface, the possibility of damaging the exterior surface ofthe vehicle increases. Specifically, despite the fact that these priormedia elements are constructed of a soft material, fine hazing andmicro-scratching of a painted vehicle surface can occur as a result ofthe velocity at which the media elements impact the vehicle surface.This is particularly true if the media elements are carrying dirtparticles or the like when they contact the vehicle exterior. Rotatingthese brushes at high speeds can also cause damage to the vehiclethrough the media elements lassoing wipers, mirrors, antennas or thelike and potentially tearing them off.

Still another problem with the high speeds at which current vehicle washbrushes are rotated is that they create significant noise during thevehicle washing process. The high volume of noise is known to dissuadesome customers from choosing to use friction car washes as it can causean unpleasant washing experience for vehicle occupants. Indeed, manypersons, particularly young children, can become uncomfortable by theexperience of riding through a vehicle wash filled with noisy, rotating,and undulating mechanical elements which have been characteristic ofcommercial car washes for decades. Still other consumers are dissuadedfrom using friction car washes due to the perception that the high speedat which existing brushes rotate creates an unsafe environment.

Still a further problem with rotating these brushes at high speeds isthat substantial energy is required to maintain their operation. Inaddition to increased energy costs, the vehicle wash equipment can wearprematurely due to the aggressive nature in which they are operated,which further adds to their cost of operation. Additionally, rapidlyrotating brush elements tend to sling water and dirt over longdistances, giving rise to substantial maintenance tasks for the owner oroperator of a commercial car wash.

It would thus be desirable to provide a wash media element for a vehiclewash component that addresses these disadvantages as well as others thatexist with current vehicle wash components.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an aspect of the present disclosure to provide a mediaelement for a vehicle wash component that reduces the potential damageto a vehicle being contacted by the component during the wash process.

It is a related aspect of the present disclosure to provide a mediaelement for a vehicle wash component that minimizes any damage to anexterior surface of a vehicle while being cleaned.

It is another aspect of the present disclosure to provide a mediaelement for a vehicle wash component that generates less noise thanprior vehicle wash components.

It is still another aspect of the present disclosure to provide a mediaelement for a vehicle wash component that yields an enhanced customerexperience during the wash process.

It is yet another aspect of the present disclosure to provide a vehiclewash component that increases the longevity of attached media elements.

It is a further aspect of the present disclosure to reduce the wear andtear on the mechanical parts of a vehicle wash component.

It is yet a further aspect of the present disclosure to a treatmentelement for a vehicle wash component that can be readily andinexpensively replaced without affecting operation of the vehicle washcomponent.

It is a related aspect of the present disclosure to provide a treatmentelement for a vehicle wash component that can be readily andinexpensively replaced without needing to remove an associated washmedia element.

In accordance with the above and the other advantages, a treatmentelement for attachment to a wash media element. The treatment elementincludes a tab portion for engaging and effecting attachment to the washmedia element. A treatment head is connected to the tab portion and isconfigured to engage a vehicle exterior. The treatment head including aplurality of individual finger portions that are moveable with respectto one another.

Other aspect of the present disclosure will be readily appreciated, asthe same becomes better understood by reference to the followingdetailed description when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,elements illustrated in the Figures have not necessarily been drawn toscale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements areexaggerated relative to other elements. Embodiments incorporatingteachings of the present disclosure are shown and described with respectto the drawings presented herein, in which:

FIG. 1a is a perspective view of a vehicle wash component at rest inaccordance with the prior art;

FIG. 1b is a top view of the prior art vehicle wash component of FIG. 1aat rest;

FIG. 2a is a perspective view of a vehicle wash component rotating athigh RPMs in accordance with the prior art;

FIG. 2b is a top view of the prior art vehicle wash component of FIG. 2arotating at high RPMs;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of portion of a vehicle wash facility inaccordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 4a is a perspective view of a top brush in accordance with anotheraspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4b is a top view of the top brush of FIG. 4 a;

FIG. 4c is a side view of the top brush of FIG. 4 a;

FIG. 5a is a perspective view of a brush assembly for a vehicle washcomponent in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5b is a top view of the brush assembly of FIG. 5 a;

FIG. 5c is a side view of the brush assembly of FIG. 5 a;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the area of the brush assemblywithin the circle labeled 6 in FIG. 5 c;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a brush assembly in accordance withanother aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a hub portion in accordance with anaspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a hub portion with a plurality ofattached lens portions in accordance with an aspect of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 10a is a partial perspective view of a hub portion in accordancewith an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10b is a partial perspective view of a hub portion in accordancewith another aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11a is a perspective view of a brush assembly for a vehicle washcomponent at rest in accordance with an aspect of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 11b is a top view of the brush assembly of FIG. 11a at rest;

FIG. 12a is a perspective view of a vehicle wash component rotating atlow RPMs in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12b is a top view of the vehicle wash component of FIG. 12arotating at low RPMs;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a vehicle wash component in accordancewith another aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 14 is an exploded view of a media element for a vehicle washcomponent in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a treatment head of the media elementof FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a top view of the media element of FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a top view of a media element for a vehicle wash component inaccordance with another aspect of the disclosure;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a media element for a vehicle washcomponent in accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 19 is a top view of the media element of FIG. 18;

FIG. 19a is an enlarged sectional view of the media element of FIG. 19;

FIG. 20 is a side view of the media element of FIG. 18;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a media element for a vehicle washcomponent in accordance with still another aspect of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 22 is a front view of a media element of FIG. 21 without treatmentheads;

FIG. 23 is a front view of a media element of FIG. 21;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a treatment head for a wash mediaelement in accordance with yet another aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 25 is a front view of the treatment head of FIG. 24.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure generally relates to an improved vehicle washcomponent for use in a vehicle wash facility. Turning now to theFigures, FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a portion of a vehicle washfacility 10 in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure. The vehiclewash facility 10 includes a vehicle wash area 12, where a vehicle 14passes for treatment, such as results from a conveyer. It will beappreciated that the vehicle wash facility may employ other mechanismfor moving the vehicle 14 therethrough, including a vehicle under itsown power. While FIG. 3 illustrates a tunnel vehicle wash facility, inaccordance with another aspect, the vehicle wash may alternatively be ofa roll-over type. The disclosed vehicle wash facility may be used toclean cars and trucks, but it could also be employed to clean othertypes of vehicles. As shown, the vehicle wash facility 10 may include apair of opposing side brushes 16, 18, which are located on either sideof the vehicle wash area 12 to clean or treat the sides of a vehicle.The vehicle wash facility 10 may also include a top brush 20 forcleaning or treating the top of the vehicle. The vehicle wash facility10 may obviously include other components for treating a vehicle, suchas rinse components and drying components. Additionally, more, less ordifferent brushes may also be employed.

FIGS. 4a through 4c illustrate a vehicle wash component 60 in accordancewith an aspect of the disclosure. According to this aspect, the vehiclewash component 60 is a top brush for contacting the top surfaces of avehicle and consists of a frame 62 and a brush portion 64. The top brush60 can be particularly suited for use in vehicle wash applications suchthat while it is being rotated by a suitable power source, such as amotor, it can be brought into contact with the exterior surface of avehicle to perform a scrubbing or cleaning function. While these Figuresillustrate a top brush, it will be appreciated that other types ofbrushes, such as side brushes may also be employed. The top brush canobviously perform other functions besides cleaning.

The frame 62 can consist of multiple components, including a pair offloor mount portions 66, a pair of vertical supports 68, and a crossbeam 70. In accordance with one aspect, the components of the frame 62may be constructed of a metal material and could be powder-coated toresist against corrosion. The components of the frame 62 may also beconstructed of a plastic or other suitable non-metal material. All orportions of the frame 62 could alternatively be formed as a singleintegral structure.

According to an aspect, the floor mount portions 66 may be mounted to afloor of a vehicle wash facility. The floor mount portions 66 may eachbe configured as a generally flat structure for engaging a flat surface,such as a wall of the vehicle wash facility. Alternatively, the floormount portions 66 may be configured with generally flat bottoms. Thevertical supports 68 of the frame 62 may extend generally upward from arespective floor mount portion 66 and can include a lower end 72 securedto the floor mount portion 66 and an upper end 74 disposed remotely fromthe floor mount portion 66. The vertical supports 68 are preferablyspaced far enough apart to permit a vehicle to pass therebetween. Inaddition, the vertical supports 68 are preferably long enough to accepta cross beam 70 which is high enough off the floor of the wash facilityto accommodate a vehicle passing therebeneath. As shown, the verticalsupports 68 may be oriented generally perpendicular to the floor mountportions 66. However, it will be appreciated that the vertical supports68 may extend at different angles from the floor mount portion 66. Also,the cross beam 70 may extend between and connect the upper ends 74 ofthe vertical supports 68.

According to an aspect, the brush portion 64 may include a u-shapedcounterbalance frame 76 and a top brush assembly 78. The u-shaped frame76 is preferably pivotally connected to the frame 62 and can include apair of pivotal arm portions 80 and a cross-support 82 that extendsbetween first ends 84 of the pivotal arm portions 80. Pursuant to afurther aspect, a counterbalance weight 86 may be secured to the secondends 88 of each of the arm portions 80 to allow rotation of the armsabout an axis A-A to raise and lower the top brush assembly 78 mountedon the cross-support 82 between the first ends 84 of the pivotal armportions 80. The top brush assembly may be driven in rotation about anaxis B-B in the direction of the arrow R. In operation, the top brushassembly 78 may be moved between a vehicle engaging position and aretracted position under computer control by cylinders 90, such ashydraulic or pneumatic cylinders, that extend between the pivotal armportions 80 and the vertical supports 68. According to another aspect,the top brush assembly 78 may be moved in a variety of other suitableways. In accordance with an aspect, a motor 92 is in communication withthe top brush assembly 78 to cause rotation thereof at predeterminedspeeds in the direction R.

FIGS. 5a through 5c , illustrate a brush assembly 100 in accordance withan aspect of the present disclosure. As shown, the brush assembly 100preferably has a generally cylindrical configuration. However, the brushassembly 100 may be shaped in a variety of different ways, such as atapered or hourglass configuration. It will be appreciated that thebrush assembly 100 and/or similar implements may be used not only inconveyer washers, but also in the so-called rollover washers where thevehicle is stationary and the brushes are mounted to a gantry or thelike which can move back and forth relative to a vehicle. The brushassembly 100 may be used in connection with a side brush, a top brush orother rotating component.

As shown in the Figures, the brush assembly 100 may consist of a hubportion 102 and a plurality of media elements 104 extendingcircumferentially around and away from the hub portion 102. The mediaelements 104 have a first end 106 that may be secured to the hub portion102 and a second end 108 located away from the hub portion 102. Thefirst ends 106 of the media elements 104 may be secured to the hubportion 102 by way of media securement members, which are secured to thehub portion 102 in a variety of suitable ways.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 through 10, it can be seen that the mediaelements 104 are attached to hub portion 102, such that they arearranged in multiple spaced apart rows. Instead of rows, the mediaelements could also be disposed in columns. The rows of media elements104 are spaced apart from one another around the exterior of the hubportion 102 such that portions of the hub portion are visible betweenthe plurality of rows. According to an aspect, the media elements 104are arranged so that their attachment points occupy only about 50percent or less of the exterior surface of the hub portion 102. Sincethe hub portion 102 necessarily has a smaller diameter than the attachedwashing elements, and since the hub can be easily visible through thespaces between the attached washing elements, the rotary car wash brushso constructed has a much less imposing appearance than one ofconventional construction, even if both brushes have the same effectiveoverall washing diameter. It will be appreciated that the degree towhich the attachment points cover the exterior surface can vary.

According to an aspect, the media elements 104 are secured such thatthey are oriented perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the hubportion 102 and the ground. Alternatively, the media elements 104 can bemounted to the hub portion 102 such that they are cocked at an anglewith respect to ground.

According to another aspect, a plurality of lens portions 110 can bedisposed around the perimeter of the hub portion 102 between the rows ofmedia elements. Preferably, the lens portions 110 are disposed betweenadjacent spaced apart rows of media elements. The lens portions 110 maybe translucent and may be a molded extruded part formed of a suitablematerial, such as a polymer. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the lensportions 110 may generally have a trapezoidal shape and can include anouter surface 112, and a pair of sidewalls 114, and a bottom surface 116that collectively define a channel 118. In accordance with an aspect,the lens portions 110 are disposed between the rows of media elementswith the bottom surface 116 being fastened to the hub portion 102, suchas by screws. In accordance with an aspect, access holes may be providedin the bottom surface 116 to facilitate attachment of the lens portions110 to the hub portion 102 along its length. It will be appreciated thatthe lens portions 110 can take on a variety of different configurationsand sizes and can be secured to the hub portion 102 in a variety ofways. According to another aspect, the translucent lens can be anintegral part of the hub or can be utilized to separate halves of thehub or other portions as desired.

Also, the substantial exposed hub area makes it possible to illuminatethe hub with an internal or external lighting source. This can helpmitigate the darkening effect of the vehicle interior experienced byvehicle occupants during the washing process. In accordance with anotheraspect, illumination elements 120 are mounted in the channels 118 of thelens portions 110 to illuminate the lens portions 110. The illuminationelements 120 may be LED strips, consisting of individual LEDs that areconnected through slip rings to a DC power source so as to illuminatethe lens portions 110 during brush operation. It will be appreciatedthat other illumination elements 120 may also be utilized. Additionally,the illumination elements 120 may also be utilized to illuminate thelens portions 110 when the brush is at rest. Further, the illuminationelements 120 can be disposed in a variety of other places.

The illuminated hub has an appearance that helps distinguish the washlocation from competing sites that use rotary car wash brushes ofconventional construction and non-illuminated hubs. In accordance withan aspect, pleasing aesthetic effects can be provided by illuminatingthe hub portion in one color or set of colors and employing mediaelements of other colors such that the appearance of the brushes in, forexample, a conveyer wash is attractive and pleasing rather thanintimidating and industrial. Also, the colors of the lights can beeasily changed as can the colors of the media elements. Additionally,the illumination elements 120 can be configured to blink or have othereffects to further enhance the aesthetically pleasing effect of thevehicle wash. Different color illumination elements can be employed atthe same time.

According to an aspect, the rows of media elements 104 may be configuredon the hub portion 102, such that they are parallel to one another. Inaccordance with another aspect, the rows of media elements 104 may bedisposed in a non-linear path such as a spiral, helical or arcuate path.As shown, the rows of media elements may follow a curving path from oneend 122 toward the center of the hub portion 102, and then reverse thatpath from the center to the far end 124. These arcuate rows ensure thatmedia elements are contacting the vehicle surface at all times andassists in reducing operational noise. The non-linear rows work like aseries of screw threads or an auger causing dirt to move from one mediaelement to the next to actively remove dirt from the vehicle exterior.The arcuate arrays also eliminate gaps between the media elements,thereby eliminating any striping of clean and unclean areas of thevehicle.

By spacing the rows of media elements 104 apart from one another, gapsexist between the rows of media elements 104. The gaps can create abouncing or lope effect on the side of the vehicle, which can cause morenoise. The utilization of the arcuate shape for the rows of mediaelements 104 can reduce both bounce and noise. This is, in part, becausethe media elements 104 are disposed at an angle with respect to thevehicle exterior. This angle can also shed dirt downward toward thefloor and provide a better cleaning of vehicle running boards and thetop corners of vehicles where the roof meets the sides. The mediaelements 104 may also be arranged on the hub portion 102 in a variety ofother patterns or orientations.

The hub portion 102 is preferably constructed of a rigid, strongmaterial such as aluminum. In accordance with an aspect, the hub portion102 preferably is adapted to be mounted to the frame of the component byway of bearings at its ends for rotation about its longitudinal axis.The hub portion 102 may be in communication with a motor to effectuaterotation thereof and thus the media elements 104.

In accordance with an aspect, the hub portion 102 can include aplurality of media securement members 126 disposed on the exteriorsurface thereof. The media securement members 126 may be welded to theoutside surface of the hub portion 102. In accordance with one aspectshown in FIG. 7, the media securement members 126 are key holes that aresecured to the hub portion in a non-linear or arcuate shape to impartthat same configuration to the media elements 104 when they are attachedthereto. The key hole securement members allow individual media elements104 to be attached to the hub portion 102, removed, and then replacedindependently of other packs of media elements. This significantlyincreases the speed of replacement of the media elements, especiallywhen certain wash elements exhibit more wear than others, and onlyselective replacement of media elements 104 is deemed appropriate. Thisprovided advantages in terms of time and expense as well as cost.

FIG. 8 illustrates a hub portion 102 in accordance with another aspectof the disclosure. In accordance with this aspect, the media securementmembers 126 consist of channels that are secured to the exterior surfaceof the hub portion 102, such as though welding. The members 126 providechannels that receive and hold a retention member 128 of the mediaelements 104. As shown, the media securement members 126 are secured tothe hub portion 102 in a non-linear or arcuate path again so the mediaelements 104 when attached have a similar path. In accordance with anaspect, the media securement members 128 are spaced at about 72 degreeintervals so that there are a total of five such members 128 equallyspaced around the outside circumference of the hub portion 102.

With reference again to FIG. 7, the media elements 104 include retentionmembers 128 that extend from the first ends 106 of the media elements104 for engagement with the media securement members 126. As shown, inaccordance with this aspect, the retention members 128 are secured tothe first ends 106 of the media elements 104 to form a welt such thatthe media elements 104 can be attached to the hub portion 102 bycoupling them to the media securement members 126. In accordance with anaspect, the media elements 104 are self-erecting or self-supporting suchthat they extend generally perpendicularly away from the hub portion 102along their length.

According to still another aspect, as shown in FIGS. 9, 10 a and 10 b,the lens portions 110 are secured to the hub portion 102 so that thesidewalls 114 closely abut the media securement members 126 so as toprovide radial slots 130 for the media elements 104, thereby stabilizingthe elements when they are properly installed. The radial slots 130provide support to a portion of media elements 104 through the sidewalls114. This prevents the media elements from rotating or flexing andprovides effective rigidity thereto. They also assist in preventingexcessive flopping of the media elements during rotation of the brush.The lens portions 110 may be molded to follow a non-linear or arcuatepath of the media securement members 126. It will be appreciated thatthe lens portions 110 and media securement members 126 can have avariety of different shapes and designs.

According to an aspect, the media elements 104 are substantiallyself-supporting and maintain their effective working length regardlessof the rotational speed of the brush. Because the media elements orstalks are self-supporting, they exert a consistent pressure on thevehicle surface, and make contact at more or less predeterminedlocations, regardless of the brush's rotational speed. The mediaelements 104 may be designed with a desired “spring pressure” by meansof material selection, length, thickness, shaped and depth of cut fromthe distal to proximal ends as discussed in more detail herein. Thespring pressure will be appreciated as the quality of the media elementsto fight a vehicle and prevent it from penetrating too far into theworking space of the brush. This keeps the hub portion an effectivedistance from the vehicle exterior.

According to an aspect, the media elements only include a small degreeof droop or hang. This translates into the fact that it is unnecessaryto rotate the brush assembly at high angular rotational speeds tomaintain the overall effective diameter of the brush and to accomplishthe washing function. The further result is a quieter, more thorough,and energy-efficient wash function. The lower rotational speeds also arelikely to minimize any damage to the paint or vehicle appendages ascompared to prior art devices which involve the rotation of brushimplements at high speeds.

Referring now to FIGS. 11a, 11b, 12a, and 12b which illustrate a brushassembly 150 in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure.FIGS. 11a and 11b illustrate the brush assembly 150 at rest and FIGS.12a and 12b illustrate the brush assembly 150 rotating at low RPMs.According to an aspect, low RPMs may be less than 50 RPMs. Withreference to FIGS. 11a, 11b, 12a, and 12b , the media elements 152 areself-supporting from a first end 154 connected to a hub portion 156 to asecond end 158 located away from the hub portion 156. As shown, themedia elements 152 may extend from the hub portion 156 such that theyare substantially perpendicular thereto over a considerable portion oftheir lengths (l). This is in contrast to existing media elementsemployed with prior vehicle wash components where the media elements arenot self-supporting and have significant droop, which causes them tohang while at rest, as generally illustrated in FIGS. 1a and 1b . Itwill be appreciated that the media elements 152 need not be entirelyperpendicular along their lengths as they may have some degree of droopin accordance with the present disclosure.

As shown in FIGS. 11a and 11b , according to an aspect of the presentdisclosure, when the brush assembly 150 is at rest, it defines a restingfootprint, generally designated by reference number 160, which isdefined by the second ends 158 of the media elements 152. The restingfootprint 160 is substantially larger than the resting footprint (F₁) ofcurrent vehicle wash components, as shown in FIGS. 1a and 1 b.

FIGS. 12a and 12b illustrates the brush assembly 150 according to anaspect while rotating. When the brush assembly 150 is rotating, arotating footprint 162 is created that is defined by the second ends 158of the media elements 152. Because the media elements 152 areself-supporting, the resting footprint 160 and the rotating footprint162 are substantially the same regardless of the rotational speed of thebrush assembly 150. This allows the rotational speed of the brushassembly 150 to be varied without significantly altering the workingfootprint. Consequently, unlike prior vehicle wash components where ahigh rotational RPM is required to achieve the necessary footprint tomake contact with a vehicle exterior, the present disclosure allows thisworking footprint to be achieved at significantly reduced RPMs, whichprovides numerous advantages as enumerated herein. It will be understoodthat while the present disclosure contemplates rotating the brushassembly 150 at a low RPMs, benefits over the prior art can still beachieved while rotating the brush assembly at high RPMs.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a vehicle wash component in accordancewith another aspect of the disclosure. As shown, the vehicle washcomponent is a side brush 180 that is mounted for rotation about asubstantially vertical axis for the purpose of washing by contact theexterior surface of a vehicle passing along a conveyer lane. The sidebrush 180 is mounted to a swing arm 182 which is connected to a floormount 184 in such a way as to permit the swing arm 182 and the brush 180to swing in and out relative to the side surface of the vehicle. Thisallows the brush 180 to accommodate vehicles of different sizes and alsoto help prevent any damage to the components of the side brush 180 bycontact with a vehicle. Conventional hydraulic/pneumatic cylinders,springs, and/or counterweights may be used for the purpose ofcontrolling the position of the side brush 180 relative to the washlane, as will be apparent to persons skilled in the art.

According to an aspect, the side brush 180 comprises a shaft 186 whichis connected to be driven by a motor 188. The shaft 186 extends upwardlythrough the center of a cylindrical hub portion 190 which is madeprimarily of a polymeric material such as high-density polyethylene. Thehub portion 190 may also be transparent or translucent. The hub portion190 can have end caps 192, 194 connected by suitable means to the hubportion 190 as well as one or more interior bulkheads 196 to providerigidity to the structure and stabilize the hub portion 190 on the shaft186. The motor 188 may be equipped with a speed-reducing gearbox asrequired. Alternatively, the motor may be a hydraulic motor.

According to an aspect, the hub portion 190 may include a plurality ofspaced-apart self-erecting, foam media elements 198 extending therefrom,as discussed in more detail below. In this aspect, the media elements198 are connected to the hub portion 190 by cylindrical collars 200 andare arranged in staggered circumferential rows with a space betweenadjacent media elements 198 both vertically and circumferentially. Thisspacing allows the hub portion 190 to be seen between the rows of mediaelements 198. The diameter of the hub portion 190 and the length of themedia elements 198 from a first end 202 to a second end 204 can vary.The vertical dimension of the brush 180 can also vary according to theapplication. According to an aspect, the media elements 198 can besecured to the hub portion 190 at an angle to assist in minimizing theimpact of the media elements with a vehicle exterior and the resultingnoise. In accordance with an aspect, the media elements 198 are orientedat approximately a 45 degree angle with respect to ground. It will beappreciated that the media elements may be secured to the hub portion190 at different angles.

Additionally, as shown, the side brush 180 can include a plurality oflight strips 206 disposed thereon. The light strips 206 may each carry aplurality of individual LEDs 208 and may be located on the interiorsurface of the hub portion 190 to illuminate the hub portion 190 invarious ways. The hub portion 190 may be translucent, such that it canserve as a lens to disperse light from the light strips 206 for viewingby a customer within a vehicle to provide an aesthetically pleasingappearance. Alternatively, the hub portion can be opaque and the collarscan be translucent so that they emit light. It will be appreciated thatthe LEDs 208 may be illuminated to provide a constant single color lightor only when the brush 180 is rotating. Alternatively, the LEDs may emitdifferent colors at different times either purely for variety, to conveyinformation regarding the progress of the wash process, or for brandingpurposes. Similarly, the LEDs 208 on the light strips 206 may be causedto blink either for purely aesthetic or for utilitarian purposes. TheLEDs may be easily changed to modify the colors for different purposes.It will be understood that other illumination elements besides LEDs maybe employed. Also, the location of the LEDs with the respect to the hubportion 190 may vary as required.

FIGS. 14 through 20 illustrate media elements for use with vehicle washcomponents in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.FIG. 14 is an exploded view of a media element 230 in accordance with anaspect of the disclosure and illustrates one of the media elements thatis configured to be secured to a hub of a vehicle wash component. Itwill be appreciated that all of the media elements on a vehicle washcomponent can be the same. Alternatively, they may have varyingconfigurations, lengths or orientations as needed. As shown, the mediaelement 230 is an elongate structure that may be constructed of an EVAfoam as is discussed on more detail in Applicant's co-pending patentapplication Ser. No. 13/668,093 entitled “An Improved Media Element forA Vehicle Wash Component”, filed concurrently herewith, the disclosureof which is hereby incorporated by reference as though set forth fullyherein. The media elements may alternatively be constructed of othersuitable materials.

As discussed below, the media element 230 may be constructed of twoseparate portions that are adhesively bonded together with a cord orbead welt at one end for mounting in a media securement member. Themedia element may be utilized in a brush in a tunnel vehicle washfacility. Alternatively, the media element may be employed in a brushfor a rollover vehicle wash where the rotation direction of the brushreverses with each pass of the rollover gantry over the vehicle beingwashed.

According to an aspect, the media element 230 can include a top plyportion 232 and a bottom ply portion 234 that are mirror images of oneanother. Each ply portion 232, 234 has an inner surface 236 and an outersurface 238. The outer surface of each ply portion 232, 234 may includetwo elongated slots 242 which divide each of the ply portions intoelongate parallel fingers 240A, 240B, and 240C. It will be appreciatedthat the lengths of the slots 242 and the number of slots 242 andtherefore elongated fingers 240A, 240B, 240C can vary. Also, the slots242 do not need to be configured to form parallel fingers as they maytake on different configurations.

Additionally, the elongated fingers 240A, 240B, and 240C of the top plyportion 232 are provided with crosswise slots 244 to receive one or moretreatment heads 246, which in accordance with an aspect are made of foamplastic, synthetic felt or other suitable material with someshape-retaining quality. A cord 248 may be placed between the plyportions at the inner ends 250 of the media elements 230 to provide asecuring structure which is configured to mate with a correspondingsecurement member in the hub portion. The cord 248 may be trappedbetween the layers of fabric which are folded back on themselves, andthen sewn together. The resulting article may then be adhesively securedbetween the ply portions of the media elements, as shown. According toan aspect, the media element may be formed as a single structure. Itcould alternatively include more or less ply portions.

According to an aspect, the inner surface 236 of the ply portions 232,234 may include groves 254 along the lengths of each of the fingers240A, 240B, and 240C. These grooves may be slightly shorter than theelongated slots 242 that separate the fingers 240A, 240B, 240C. Thepurpose of the shallow grooves 254 is to provide a recess for receivingthe tabs 256 of the treatment heads 246 that pass through the crosswiseslots 244 to secure the treatment head 246 to the body portion 232, 234.An exemplary treatment head 246 is illustrated in FIG. 15. According toan aspect, the tabs 256 are bent over when the ply portions 232, 234 arebrought together and adhesively bonded to one another to form the finalmedia element 230. The treatment heads 246 may also include one or morelongitudinal cuts 260 formed therein, which create a plurality ofelongated contact portions 262. The elongated contact portions 262 mayflex and move independently with respect to one another. According toanother aspect, the treatment heads 246 may be angled toward the outerend 258 of the media element 230. It will be appreciated that eachfinger 240A, 240B, 240C can receive a plurality of treatment heads 246.While four treatment heads 246 are illustrated in FIG. 14, it will beappreciated that more or less treatment heads 246 may be employed. Theconfiguration of the treatment heads 246 as well as their attachmentlocations can vary. Additionally, the treatment heads 246 may be anintegrally formed structure as opposed to a separately attachedstructure.

According to an aspect, the media elements 230 may utilize a hybridconfiguration employing multiple materials to provide an improvedwashing action and cleaning results. As shown, the wash elements caninclude a self-supporting body portion that is formed of a lightmaterial, which does not absorb water so to remain light during the washprocess. Attached to the outer end 258 of the media element 230 is atreatment head 246 that is formed of a textile-based material and isconfigured to contact a vehicle surface. This textile based treatmenthead 246 can retain water and detergents and provide a superior washingaction, without the heaviness or noise associated with existing washmedia elements that are made entirely of a textile-based material.

As shown in FIG. 16, in accordance with one aspect, the treatment heads246 protrude outwardly from only the top ply portion 232 (or only thebottom ply portion 234). FIG. 17 illustrates another aspect where thetreatment heads 246 protrude outwardly from both the top ply portion 232and the bottom ply portion 234. The treatment heads 246 on both sidesare preferably identical, however they could have differentconfigurations as required.

FIGS. 18 through 20 illustrate a media element 300 in accordance withanother aspect of the present disclosure. According to this aspect, themedia element 300 may be manufactured from a single block of closed cellEVA, and may include a plurality of saw cuts 302 to provide a splayablesection comprising treatment heads 304 at an outer end 306 of the mediaelement 300. The saw cuts 302 are formed in both a longitudinal andradial direction. The result of employing a plurality of saw cuts intothe media element 300 and creating a plurality of treatment heads 304 isto permit the treatment heads 304 to fan out in contact with the surfaceof the vehicle being washed and increase the effective area of contact.It will be appreciated to those skilled in the art that instead of sawcutting a solid block of closed-cell EVA foam, a media element ofsimilar physical characteristics to those shown in FIGS. 14 through 17may be constructed by laminating and adhesively bonding (or heatbonding) individual layers of pre-cut material. In addition,combinations of cutting and laminating can also be used.

The media element 300 also includes a spring section 308, which isgenerally disposed in the middle portion, and a reduced-size section 310at the inner end 312, which can be mounted by collars into the hubportion of the brush, as discussed above. Alternatively, the inner end312 of the media element 300 may be configured to mate with a securementmember on the hub portion. The spring section is intended to helpmaintain the extended shape of the media element 300 and the inner end312 to facilitate trapping the media element 300 in the media securementmembers mounted to the hub portion. The spring section also helpsprovide the media element with the desired effective rigidity asdiscussed above. The spring section may be located in various placesalong the body of the media element.

The EVA material from which the media element 300 is formed ispreferably between about 4-10 pounds per cubic foot in density and thesurfaces for the treatment heads 304 in the outer end 306 may betextured by the use of a saw blade with alternatively oppositelyoriented blade teeth. The textured surface, which is schematicallyillustrated in FIG. 19a , can give the treatment heads 304 a feelsimilar to terrycloth.

FIGS. 21 through 25 illustrate another aspect of a wash media element400 in accordance with another aspect of the disclosure. As shown, themedia elements 400 can include a front face 402, a rear face 404 and apair of edge walls 406 that extend between the front and rear faces 402,404 and have a thickness T. According to another aspect, the mediaelements 400 may be formed of a self-supporting material such that theysubstantially retain a constant shape between the first and second ends408, 410 when the hub to which they are attached is rotated. Forexample, the media elements 400 may be made of an elastomeric polymertype material such as ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA). It will beappreciated that the media elements 400 could have a variety ofdifferent shapes and may be formed of a variety of different types ofsuitable materials.

According to an aspect, the media elements 400 may each further define apair of elongated slots 412 that extend generally from the second end410 toward the first end 408 along a portion of the media element 400 todivide it into a plurality of elongated fingers 414 disposed in spacedand parallel relationship with one another. The elongated slots 412 canextend fully between the front face 402 and the rear face 404 at anyangle. As shown in the figures, the elongated slots 412 may extendgenerally linearly, however, it should be appreciated that they couldextend in other shapes, e.g., an arc or zigzag pattern. As such, thefingers 414 may have other shapes as well. According to a furtheraspect, the elongated slots 412 are oriented generally parallel to theedge walls 406, however, they may also be angled or sloped.Additionally, more or fewer slots 412 may be employed.

As shown, according to an aspect, the slots 412 may be formed by theremoval of material such that the slots 412 may be defined by theabsence of material. In other words, the opposing edges of the elongatedfingers 414 are spaced apart from one another by the slot 412 defined bythe removal of material. It should be appreciated that during rotationof the media elements 400, the slots 412 may advantageously allowcomponents of the vehicle to pass therethrough between the fingers 414to ensure that the vehicle is evenly engaged by the fingers 414 duringeach pass of the media element 400 and to ensure that the components arenot snagged and damaged or torn from the vehicle. For example, anantenna of the vehicle may pass through the slot 412, thus allowing thefingers 414 to contact and remove debris from the surfaces of thevehicle on opposing sides of the antenna. Furthermore, it should beappreciated that the fingers 414 may bend/pivot relative to one anotherduring contact with this vehicle to allow non-planar structures of thevehicle to be evenly contacted and cleaned by the fingers 414, asdiscussed herein.

According to an aspect, the media elements 400 may further include aplurality of treatment heads 420 that may each be connected to one ofthe elongated fingers 414. Each of the treatment heads 420 may have aforward face 422 and a rearward face 424 and may extend between acontact portion 426 and a tongue portion 428. Like the rest of the mediaelements 400, each of the treatment heads 420 may be made of a shaperetaining material including, but not limited to, an elastomeric polymertype material such as ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA). It will beappreciated that the treatment heads 420 could be formed from adifferent material. According to an aspect, each treatment head 420,like each media element 420, is self-supporting. This self-supportingcharacteristic serves to apply a pressure force on the vehicle toprovide improved cleaning.

As best illustrated in FIG. 22, each of the elongated fingers 414 of themedia elements 400 may also include a plurality of crosswise niches 430that extend generally perpendicularly to the elongated slots 412 forreceiving the treatment heads 420. More specifically, as bestillustrated in FIGS. 21 and 23, the niches 430 are configured such thatthey may receive the tongue portions 428 of the treatments heads 420 forconnecting the treatment heads 420 to the media elements 400. Withreference to FIGS. 24 and 25, the tongue portions 428 can include anenlarged head portion 432 that assists in retaining the treatment heads420 secured to the wash media element 400. According to an aspect, thehead portion 432 may be sized so that its width is larger than the widthof the niche 430 to which it is inserted to ensure attachment duringoperation. According to a further aspect, the head portion 432 may besized so that its width is less than the width of the elongated finger414 to which it is attached. It will be appreciated that the treatmentheads 420 may be secured to the media elements 400 in a variety of othersuitable ways. Further, according to an aspect, the niches 430 couldalso extend at various other angles relative to the slots 412.

As best shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, the contact portion 426 of each thetreatment heads 420 are configured to contact the vehicle to removedebris and water from the vehicle. Each contact portions 426 may includea plurality of bristle portions 434 that may have various widths andlengths. The bristle portions 434 are preferably independently moveablewith respect to one another to provide increased cleaning capabilities.As the bristle portions 434 move independent of one another, it exposesside portions of each bristle that can contact a vehicle and effectcleaning. As shown, according to one aspect, 9 individual bristles maybe employed. However, it will be appreciated that any number of bristleportions 434 may be employed. It will be appreciated that the treatmentheads 420 may extend from the crosswise niches 430 at any angle relativeto the fingers 414. For example, the treatment heads 420 may extend fromthe niches 430 with the forward face 422 disposed at approximately a 45degree angle relative to the front face 402 of the finger 414. Accordingto another example, the treatment heads 420 can extend from the niches430 with the forward face 422 of the treatment heads 420 disposed atapproximately a 90 degree relative to the front face 402 of the finger414. It will be appreciated that the treatment heads 420 could extend atother angles as desired.

As best illustrated FIG. 23, the treatment heads 420 may be formed suchthat the contact portion 426 of each of the treatment heads 420 has awidth that is greater than the width of the elongated finger 414 towhich it is attached such that it extends past the edges of the fingers414 and overlie at least part of the slots 412. It should be appreciatedthat positioning the contact portions 426 in this overlapping fashionover the slots 412 advantageously prevents “skunk stripes” on thevehicle at the location of the slots 412/gap between the fingers 414.More specifically, the bristles portions 434 can provide a contractpoint with the vehicle that would otherwise not be present because ofthe presence of the slots 412. As best shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, thetreatment head 420 has a pair of sides 440 that generally converge fromthe contact portion 426 toward to the head portion 432. The sides 440converge in a generally arcuate manner in order to avoid any sharp oredge portions. According to an aspect, the tongue portion 428 thatconnects the contact portion 426 to the head portion 432. The tongueportion 428 has a sufficient width to ensure that the contact portion426 exerts a force onto a vehicle exterior. The tongue portion 428 thusexerts a spring force to keep the contact portion 426 engaged with thevehicle exterior.

To further aid in preventing skunk striping on the vehicle, thetreatment heads 420 on adjacent fingers 414 may be positioned out ofalignment with one another to allow a plurality of treatment heads 420to extend over each slot 412 without interfering with one another. Morespecifically, as best illustrated in FIGS. 22 and 23, the niches 430 ofeach finger 414 may be disposed in parallel relationship with oneanother along the finger 414, which accordingly positions the treatmentheads 420 of each finger 414 in parallel relationship with one anotheralong the finger 414. Furthermore, the niches 430 of each finger 414 maybe disposed out of alignment with the niches 430 on adjacent fingers414. As such, the niches 430 may be generally arranged in a“checkerboard” pattern across the fingers 414.

It will be appreciated that arranging the niches 430 out of alignmentwith one another on adjacent fingers 414 spaces the faces 422, 424 ofthe treatment heads 420 along different planes relative to one anothersuch that the bristle portions 434 that extend over the slots 412 do notengage one another. Accordingly, the bristle portions 434 of each row oftreatment heads 420 extends substantially into or entirely covers theslot 412, such that there is no gap in coverage for the vehicle. Assuch, this arrangement further contributes to preventing “skunkstriping” during contact of the media elements 400 with the vehiclebecause it provides for a more uniform distribution of bristle portions434 over the slots 414.

The multi-segment media elements with discrete treatment heads can beangled, whether through design or use or both, to clean differingvehicle contours. This enables a vehicle wash component as describedherein to effectively clean or treat differing vehicle contours, whileemploying media elements of consistent length, and maintaining aconsistent surface speed along the length of the brush. This ensuresthat the entire brush cleans the vehicle surface with the desiredaction, and reduces both the potential for vehicle damage and theunpleasant noise levels experienced by vehicle occupants.

According to an aspect, the resulting media elements are self-erectingin the sense that they tend to stand outwardly from the hub portion evenwhen it is not being rotated by the motor. Only a small degree of droopis evident. These elements stand unsupported. This translates into thefact that it is unnecessary to rotate the brush at high angularrotational speeds to maintain the overall effective diameter of thebrush and to accomplish the washing function. The further result is aquieter, more thorough and energy-efficient wash function. The lowerrotational speeds also are less likely to damage paint or vehicleappendages than some prior art devices which involve the rotation ofbrush elements at high speeds. The density of the foam material used tomake the media elements is such that they stand fully out radially fromthe hub portion even when the brush is not rotating.

The overall result is an attractive, quiet running, effective brush witha long life and a high tech look. The quiet operation is due in part tothe use of the foam EVA material and in part to the reversing arcuateconfiguration of the media tracks between the lenses on the aluminumhub. This curving media track results in a progressive or time-shapedseries of contacts between individual media elements and treatment headcombinations as the brush rotates as opposed to a brush with straightcleaning elements where all of the cleaning elements in a given linealong the length of the brush contact the vehicle at the same timeduring brush rotation.

In operation, the brush is actuated and brought into position adjacent awash lane when a vehicle approaches. In a typical operation, a vehicleis first sprayed with a soapy foam from outlets in an arch and thenbrought into contact with the brushes which perform a smooth, quiet,massaging action on the vehicle, the textured splayable treatment headsand fingers having an effect much like a terrycloth towel to provide athrough but quiet and energy conserving cleaning action. It has beenfound that the cleaning elements and fingers tend to trap dirt and, eventhough the brushes are rotated at a very low speed, there is some actiontending to flick or discharge dirt particles rearwardly away from thevehicle such that a cleaner set of media elements is then brought backinto contact with the vehicle by continued rotation. Abundant water isapplied to the vehicle during and immediately after the washing functionby suitable spray devices as will be apparent to persons skilled in theart.

In accordance with another aspect, a mechanical contact device may bedisposed adjacent each of the rotating brushes. The brushes may bebrought into contact with the mechanical contact device while it isrotating to assist in cleaning the media elements. This eliminates theneed to rely solely on centrifugal force or the use of water rinsing theclean the brush.

By way of reiteration, it will be appreciated that there are a number ofsignificant advantages emerging from the subject matter describedherein, including: (1) a car wash implement of unique albeit variableappearance; (2) a quiet, low energy operation resulting from theself-erecting quality of the media elements and the capability ofrotating the brush at low speeds; (3) a dramatic reduction in the waterand dirt slinging effect, (4) a soft massage-type cleaning action, (5) acapacity for providing an illuminated core structure for both aestheticand/or utilitarian purposes. Additionally, the foam media elementsprovide resistance against the vehicle that limits the degree to whichthe vehicle penetrates the brush and keeps the hub portion a safedistance from the vehicle.

The specification and illustrations of the embodiments described hereinare intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of thevarious embodiments. The specification and illustrations are notintended to serve as an exhaustive and comprehensive description of allof the elements and features of apparatus and systems that use thestructures or methods described herein. Many other embodiments may beapparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the disclosure.Other embodiments may be used and derived from the disclosure, such thata structural substitution, logical substitution, or another change maybe made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly,the disclosure is to be regarded as illustrative rather thanrestrictive.

Certain features are, for clarity, described herein in the context ofseparate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a singleembodiment. Conversely, various features that are, for brevity,described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be providedseparately or in any sub combination. Further, reference to valuesstated in ranges includes each and every value within that range.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have beendescribed above with regard to specific embodiments. However, thebenefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any feature(s) that maycause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become morepronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essentialfeature of any or all the claims.

The above-disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, andnot restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover any andall such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments that fallwithin the scope of the present invention. Thus, to the maximum extentallowed by law, the scope of the present invention is to be determinedby the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims andtheir equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by theforegoing detailed description.

Although only a few exemplary embodiments have been described in detailabove, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that manymodifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments withoutmaterially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of theembodiments of the present disclosure. Accordingly, all suchmodifications are intended to be included within the scope of theembodiments of the present disclosure as defined in the followingclaims. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to coverthe structures described herein as performing the recited function andnot only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures.

What is claimed is:
 1. A treatment head in combination with a wash mediaelement for use with a vehicle wash component, the wash media elementcomprising a top ply portion having a slot formed therein and a bottomportion comprising a groove, the treatment head attached to the washmedia element and further comprising: a contact portion for engaging avehicle exterior, the contact portion including a plurality ofindividual finger like portions that are moveable with respect to oneanother; a tongue portion opposite the contact portion, the tongueportion configured to pass through the slot formed in an outer surfaceof the top ply portion of the wash media element and to be received inand bent by the groove in the bottom portion of the wash media elementwith the tongue retained in the slot and secured between the top plyportion and the bottom portion of the wash media element in order toeffect attachment thereto; whereby the treatment head is formed of aself-supporting foam material.
 2. The treatment head of claim 1, whereinfurther comprising a plurality of longitudinal cuts in the contactportion creating said plurality of individual finger like portions. 3.The treatment head of claim 1, wherein the treatment head includes apair of opposing side portions, wherein the side portions generallyconverge in a direction from the contact portion to the tongue portion.4. The treatment head of claim 1, wherein the treatment head is formedof an EVA material.
 5. The treatment head of claim 1, wherein the tongueportion has a sufficient width to exert a spring force.
 6. A treatmenthead formed of a self-supporting material and configured to engage awash media element for use with a vehicle wash component, comprising: aone-piece body portion having an inner end, an outer end and a pair ofopposing side portions extending between the inner end and the outerend; a contact portion disposed adjacent the outer end, the contactportion including a plurality of individual finger like bristle portionsthat are moveable with respect to one another; a head portion disposedadjacent the inner end, the head portion configured to pass through aslot formed in the wash media element and sized to retain the bodyportion secured in engagement with the wash media element; and a tongueportion connecting the contact portion and the head portion, the headportion being sized larger than the slot and the tongue portion, thesize of the head portion retaining the treatment head in place once thetongue portion engages the slot.
 7. The treatment head of claim 6,wherein the contact portion includes nine moveable bristle portions. 8.The treatment head of claim 6, wherein the bristle portions each includea pair of side portions that are configured to engage a vehicleexterior.
 9. The treatment head of claim 6, wherein the head portion hasa generally semi-circular shape.
 10. The treatment head of claim 6,wherein the opposing side portions generally converge in a directionfrom the contact portion to the head portion.
 11. The treatment head ofclaim 10, wherein the opposing side portions have a generally arcuateshape in a direction from the contact portion to the tongue portion. 12.The treatment head of claim 6, wherein the treatment head is formed ofan self-supporting foam material.
 13. The treatment head of claim 12,wherein the treatment head is formed of a self-supporting EVA material.14. The treatment head of claim 6, wherein the tongue portion has asufficient width to exert a spring force.
 15. A treatment head formed ofa self-supporting material and configured to releaseably attach to awash media element of a vehicle wash component, comprising: a one-piecebody portion having an inner end, an outer end and a pair of opposingside portions extending between the inner end and the outer end; acontact portion disposed adjacent the outer end, the contact portionincluding a plurality of individual finger like bristle portions thatare moveable with respect to one another; and a head portion disposedadjacent the inner end, the head portion configured to pass through aslot formed in the wash media element and the head portion sized suchthat it is larger than the slot to thereby retain the body portionsecured in engagement with the wash media element once the head portionis passed through the slot; and a tongue portion connecting the contactportion and the head portion, the tongue portion sized smaller than thehead portion and wherein the opposing side portions generally convergein a direction from the contact portion to the head portion.
 16. Thetreatment head of claim 15, wherein the contact portion includes ninemoveable bristle portions.
 17. The treatment head of claim 15, whereinthe bristle portions each include a pair of side portions that areconfigured to engage a vehicle exterior.
 18. The treatment head of claim15, wherein the head portion has a generally semi-circular shape. 19.The treatment head of claim 15, wherein the treatment head is formed ofan self-supporting foam material.
 20. The treatment head of claim 19,wherein the treatment head is formed of a self-supporting EVA material.21. The treatment head of claim 15, wherein the tongue portion has asufficient width to exert a spring force.